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Starting next week, Saher cameras will go into operation in several key locations on main streets and intersections in Madinah, according to the head of safety department at Madinah Traffic Administration. The Saher traffic monitoring system uses cameras and radars to levy fines against drivers who speed and run red lights, park in no-parking zones and turn without yielding to oncoming vehicles. Also, drivers who do not stop at yellow lights will be ticketed and photographed by Saher cameras. The spokesman said heavy trucks which are spotted on the city’s roads, particularly the Second Ring Road, outside of the set time will be fined.

Saher is an automated traffic control and management system which covers major cities in Saudi Arabia, and uses digital cameras network linked with the National Information Center of Ministry of Interior.
Saher consists of a network of cameras, fixed and mobile radars to automatically, without human intervention,monitor and control traffic violations, as well as issue traffic violation tickets and notifies violators.

According to the World Health Organization, Saudi Arabia has the world’s highest number of deaths from road accidents, which now make up the country’s principal cause of death in adult males aged 16 to 36. First reported by the Saudi daily Arab News, the study found that 6,485 people had died and more than 36,000 were injured in over 485,000 traffic accidents during 2008 and 2009.

Zaina Naer wrote last year in the Saudi Gazette: “Saudi Arabia spends $6 billion per year on the management of car accidents, and $250 million per year on medical care for those injured on Saudi roads, while an average of 19.1 deaths a day makes the country among the most dangerous in the world for drivers. Motorists can be seen running red lights, speeding, racing, or driving in a reckless and aggressive fashion, while most car accidents are mainly caused by young male drivers due to their lack of responsibility and careless attitudes.”

5 Responses

We’ve had Saher here in the Eastern Privince for a while now, and there is a noticeable difference. But there still are those who flash their high beams at you and honk until either you move over or they can find just enough space to drive pass you in the shoulder/emergency lane.

Whenever anyone notices a Saher car, they hit the brakes even if they were driving the speed limit. They should also ticket those who drive too slow. You see people driving 60 or 80 on a 120 km/h highway, while others drive the speed limit or those “crazies” drive 140+.